Promising drugs and treatment options for pediatric and adolescent patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Currently-available therapies for newly-diagnosed pediatric and adolescent patients with Hodgkin lymphoma result in >95% survival at 5 years. Long-term survivors may suffer from long-term treatment-related side effects, however, so the past 20 years have seen clinical trials for children and adolescents with HL gradually abandon the regimens used in adults in an effort to improve this situation. Narrower-field radiotherapy can reduce long-term toxicity while maintaining good tumor control. Various risk-adapted chemo-radiotherapy strategies have been used. Early assessment of tumor response with interim positron emission tomography and/or measuring metabolic tumor volume has been used both to limit RT in patients with favorable characteristics and to adopt more aggressive therapies in patients with a poor response. Most classical Hodgkin's lymphoma relapses occur within 3 years of initial treatment, while relapses occurring 5 years or more after diagnosis are rare. As the outcome for patients with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma remains unsatisfactory, new drugs have been proposed for its prevention or treatment. This review summarizes the important advances made in recent years in the management of pediatric and adolescent with classical Hodgkin lymphoma, and the novel targeted treatments for relapsed and refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Extranodal Biphenotypic Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma of the Popliteal Cavity: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Primary soft-tissue lymphoma (PSTL) is a rare extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma, characterized by a mass growing within soft-tissue, which is connective tissue, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. Here, we describe a case of biphenotypic lymphoblastic lymphoma arising from soft tissue of the popliteal fossa in an 11-year-old boy. A pediatric review about PSTL revealed that anaplastic large cell lymphoma is the most common histological type and a biphenotypic lymphoblastic lymphoma has not yet been reported in childhood. Lymphoma should always be considered in patients presenting with a soft-tissue mass, and a comprehensive immunohistochemical evaluation, including B-cell, T-cell, and myeloid markers, is needed to make a correct diagnosis and establish the most suitable treatment.

Thrombopoietin receptor agonists increase splenic regulatory T-cell numbers in immune thrombocytopenia.

Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) are a valid therapy for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), due to megakaryocyte stimulation and (poorly characterised) immune-modulatory effects. The spleen is pivotal in the pathogenesis of ITP, yet little is known on its immune microenvironment and on effects of TPO-RA on this organ. To address these topics, we analysed 35 spleens removed for primary refractory ITP. Pre-splenectomy TPO-RA administration correlated with increased splenic regulatory T cells (Tregs), type 2 T-helper cells and histiocyte density and with reduced red pulp sinusoids. Surgical outcome was not associated with TPO-RA administration, other pre-splenectomy therapies and/or Treg density. In conclusion, TPO-RA affect the splenic microenvironment, but this has no impact on splenectomy outcome.

Epstein-Barr virus associated gastric dysplasia: a new rare entity?

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection characterizes a portion of gastric adenocarcinomas. However, since there is lack of evidence of EBV presence in pre-neoplastic lesions of gastric mucosa, the etiologic role of EBV in gastric carcinogenesis is still debated. We report an unusual case of an EBV-associated foveolar gastric dysplasia associated with a focus of EBV-positive low-grade tubular adenocarcinoma, arisen in the context of a lymphocytic-like (EBV-positive) gastritis. The present case offers the unique opportunity to determine whether EBV is an early or late event in gastric cancer development and to evaluate its prevalence in patients with gastric dysplasia. To properly address this question, we investigated EBER expression in a large mono-institutional series of gastric and gastro-esophageal cancers (n = 594) and associated precursor lesions (n = 84). All the selected gastric dysplastic lesions (n = 43) resulted EBV negative. In most cases, EBV is present only in gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas, but not in their precursor lesions. However, the reported case indicates that non-conventional EBV-associated dysplasia may represent a novel histopathological entity in the gastric dysplasia scenario and that EBV could play an early direct role in gastric carcinogenesis.

Primary breast lymphoma of childhood: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is an extremely rare neoplasm in children; by definition, it manifests in the breast without evidence of lymphoma elsewhere, except ipsilateral axillary nodes. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 15-year-old girl diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the right breast: the patient received chemotherapy and rituximab, achieving complete remission. A literature review revealed other 11 cases of pediatric PBL; it mainly affects female adolescents and can involve right and left breast equally. Different histologic subtypes have been described, arising from both B-cell and T-cell. Therapeutic approaches were very different, from chemotherapy to local treatment with surgery and/or radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our case is the first in which rituximab was administered, suggesting to be a promising therapy in B-cell PBL, as already demonstrated in pediatric B-cell lymphoma from other sites. Further investigations are needed to identify prognostic factors and establish the most effective treatment.

Prognostic Role of Minimal Disseminated Disease and NOTCH1/FBXW7 Mutational Status in Children with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: The AIEOP Experience.

NOTCH1/FBXW7 (N/F) mutational status at diagnosis is employed for T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) patients' stratification in the international protocol LBL 2018. Our aim was to validate the prognostic role of Minimal Disseminated Disease (MDD) alone and in combination with N/F mutational status in a large retrospective series of LBL pediatric patients. MDD was analyzed in 132 bone marrow and/or peripheral blood samples by flow cytometry. Mutations in N/F genes were analyzed on 58 T-LBL tumor biopsies. Using the previously established cut-off of 3%, the four-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 57% for stage I-III patients with MDD ≥ 3% versus 80% for patients with MDD inferior to cut-off (p = 0.068). We found a significant worsening in the four-year PFS for nonmutated (51 ± 12%) compared to mutated patients (100%, p = 0.0013). Combining MDD and N/F mutational status in a subgroup of available cases, we found a statistically significant difference in the four-year PFS for different risk groups (p = 0.0012). Overall, our results demonstrate that N/F mutational status has a more relevant prognostic value than MDD at diagnosis. However, the combination of N/F mutations with MDD analysis could identify patients with very aggressive disease, which might benefit from a more intensive treatment.

Molecular features of non-anaplastic peripheral T-cell lymphoma in children and adolescents.

Non-anaplasticperipheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are rare tumors in children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA) with poor prognosis and scarce genetic data. We analyzed lymphoma tissue from 36 patients up to 18 years old with PTCL, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive T-lymphoproliferative diseases, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma, and other PTCL types. Twenty-three patients (64%) had at least one genetic variant detectable, including TET2, KMT2C, PIK3D, and DMNT3A. TP53 and RHOA variants, commonly found in adults, were not identified. Eight of 20 (40%) CAYA PTCL-NOS had no detectable mutations. The genetic findings suggest that CAYA PTCL differ from adult cases.

Prognostic Factors in Childhood Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Long Term Results of the International ALCL99 Trial.

With the aim of describing the long-term follow-up and to define the prognostic role of the clinical/pathological/molecular characteristics at diagnosis for childhood, adolescent and young adults affected by anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), we analyzed 420 patients aged up to 22 years homogeneously treated within the international ALCL99 trial. The 10-year progression free survival (PFS) was 70% and overall survival was 90%, rare late relapses occurred but no secondary malignancies were reported. Among clinical/pathological characteristics, only patients presenting a small cell/lymphohistiocytic (SC/LH) pattern were independently associated with risk of failure (hazard ratio = 2.49). Analysis of minimal disseminated disease (MDD), available for 162 patients, showed that both SC/LH pattern (hazard ratio = 2.4) and MDD positivity (hazard ratio = 2.15) were significantly associated with risk of failure in multivariate analysis. Considering MDD and SC/LH results, patients were separated into three biological/pathological (bp) risk groups: a high-risk group (bpHR) including MDD-positive patients with SC/LH pattern; a low-risk group (bpLR) including MDD-negative patients without SC/LH pattern; and an intermediate-risk group (bpIR) including remaining patients. The 10-year PFS was 40%, 75% and 86% for bpHR, bpIR and bpLR, respectively (p < 0.0001). These results should be considered in the design of future ALCL trials to tailor individual treatments.

Comparison of Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Children and Adolescents. A Twenty Year Experience with MH'96 and LH2004 AIEOP (Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology) Protocols.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) represent a distinct group of patients. The objectives of this study were: To compare adolescent prognosis to that of younger children; to compare the results achieved with the two consecutive protocols in both age groups; to analyze clinical characteristics of children and adolescents. Between 1996 and 2017, 1759 patients aged <18 years were evaluable for the study. Five hundred and sixty patients were treated with the MH'96 protocol and 1199 with the LH2004 protocol. Four hundred and eighty-two were adolescents aged ≥15 years. Patients in both age groups showed very favorable prognoses. In particular, OS improved with the LH2004 protocol, especially in the adolescent group and in the low risk group, where radiation therapy was spared. Adolescent characteristics differed significantly from the children's according to sex, histology, and the presence of symptoms. Remarkable is the decrease both in mixed cellularity in the children and in low stages in both age groups in the LH2004 protocol with respect to MH'96 protocol. Based on our experience, adopting pediatric protocols for AYA does not compromise patient outcomes.

Epstein-Barr virus BART microRNAs in EBV- associated Hodgkin lymphoma and gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: EBV produces miRNAs with important functions in cancer growth, tumor invasion and host immune surveillance. The discovery of EBV miR-BARTs is recent, and most of their functions are still unknown. Nonetheless, some new studies underline their key roles in EBV-associated malignancies. MAIN BODY: In EBV-associated tumors, the expression profile of miR-BARTs varies according to the cell type, autophagic process and signals received from the tumor microenvironment. By the same way of interest is the interaction between tumor cells and the tumor environment by the release of selected EBV miR-BARTs in addition to the tumor proteins trough tumor exosomes. CONCLUSION: In this review, we discuss new findings regarding EBV miR-BARTs in Hodgkin lymphoma and gastric cancer. The recent discovery that miRNAs are released by exosomes, including miR-BARTs, highlights the importance of tumor and microenvironment interplay with more specific effects on the host immune response.

Rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma of childhood and adolescence: A consensus diagnostic and therapeutic approach to pediatric-type follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, and nonanaplastic peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

Pediatric-type follicular (PTFL), marginal zone (MZL), and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) account each for <2% of childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We present clinical and histopathological features of PTFL, MZL, and few subtypes of PTCL and provide treatment recommendations. For localized PTFL and MZL, watchful waiting after complete resection is the therapy of choice. For PTCL, therapy is subtype-dependent and ranges from a block-like anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)-derived and, alternatively, leukemia-derived therapy in PTCL not otherwise specified and subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma to a block-like mature B-NHL-derived or, preferentially, ALCL-derived treatment followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in first remission in hepatosplenic and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Successful Treatment of an EBV-positive Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Patient With Trisomy 21.

Diffuse large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) secondary to a chronic severe Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has not been previously described in a patient with trisomy 21. Here we report the case of a 14-year-old girl with trisomy 21 with impaired control of EBV and DLBCL. She was cured with dose-adapted chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation without severe treatment-related toxicity. We describe the first case of EBV-positive DLBCL in a patient with trisomy 21 and we propose a treatment modality for this rare entity.

Eltrombopag for immune thrombocytopenia secondary to chronic lymphoproliferative disorders: a phase 2 multicenter study.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) secondary to chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) is poorly responsive to conventional treatments. We conducted a multicenter phase 2 prospective 24-week study in 18 patients with ITP secondary to LPDs to assess the safety and efficacy of eltrombopag. Responsive patients entered an extension study for up to 5 years. For inclusion, patients should not require cytotoxic treatment and should have a platelet count <30 × 109/L or have symptoms of bleeding. Eltrombopag was initiated at 50 mg/day, with a maximum of 150 mg/day. The primary end point was platelet response after 4 weeks. Median age was 70 years (range, 43-83 years), and 14 patients had chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 2 had classic Hodgkin lymphoma, and 2 had Waldenström macroglobulinemia. All patients had received previous ITP treatments. Response rate at week 4 was 78% (95% confidence interval [CI], 58%-97%), with 50% of patients having a complete response (CR) (95% CI, 43%-57%); respective results at week 24 were 59% (95% CI, 36%-82%) with 30% reaching a CR (95% CI, 8%-52%). Median exposure to eltrombopag was 16 months; median dose at week 4 was 50 mg/day (range, 25-100 mg/day), and at week 24, it was 50 mg/day (range, 25-150 mg/day). No grade >2 adverse events were reported. Eltrombopag is active and well tolerated in ITP secondary to LPDs. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01610180.

Hepatitis C virus positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas have distinct molecular features and lack BCL2 translocations.

BACKGROUND: The clinical presentation of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is different from their HCV-negative counterparts, but the underlying molecular and pathological characteristics are largely under investigated. The virus has a role in lymphomagenesis, as witnessed by the curative potential of antiviral therapy in HCV-related low-grade B-cell lymphomas. METHODS: We performed a case-control study including 44 HCV-positive cases of de novo DLBCL, comparing them with 132 HCV-negative patients as controls (ratio 3 to 1). Cases and controls were matched for age, lactate dehydrogenase level and international prognostic index at presentation. Patients were studied by gene expression profiling for cell-of-origin determination and to perform differential expression analysis between groups, fluorescence in-situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry for MYC, BCL2 and BCL6, TP53 mutations, and diagnostic specimens reviewed to exclude transformation from low-grade lymphoma. RESULTS: Compared to the HCV-negative controls, patients with HCV-positive de novo DLBCL had differential expression of genes that regulate innate immune response and modulate apoptotic pathways, have higher proliferative index, and lack BCL2 translocations. CONCLUSIONS: HCV-positive DLBCL have distinct molecular and pathological features compared to the HCV-negative counterparts.